Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code B21, part of the Bird Opening family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 6 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
2. f4 – White plays the pawn to f4
2... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
3. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
3... dxe4 – Black captures on e4 with the d-pawn
About the Bird Opening
White starts with 1.f4, controlling e5. It is like a Dutch Defense with colours reversed and leads to kingside play.
White often plays Nf3, e3, b3 and Bb2 to control e5 strongly.
From's Gambit 1...e5 is a dangerous reply; know it before you play 1.f4.
The e1-h4 diagonal is weak, so watch for ...Qh4+ and ...Bg3 ideas.
chessGM